Cloth turner

ABSTRACT

An everting apparatus for tubular fabric including a first elongated tubular duct which defines a first passageway therewithin, and a second elongated tubular duct disposed concentrically about the first duct and which defines a second passageway with the first duct. The ducts are preferably disposed in a substantially horizontal position. An air flow redirecting member is mounted adjacent one end of each of the first and second ducts. An air blower moves air, by means of an eductor mounted on one end of the first duct, in the first passageway in a direction from the end adjacent the redirecting member to the other end of the first duct for drawing tubular knit fabric therethrough. The air blower also moves air through the second passageway in a direction from the other end of the first duct toward the end adjacent to which the member is mounted. The air moving in the second passageway is redirected by the member so as to move in a substantially longitudinal direction from the one end to the other end of the second duct along the exterior of the second duct. This air flow moves tubular fabric over the exterior of the second duct to collect tubular fabric around the second duct as it is withdrawn from a supply roll of the fabric. In operation, one end of the length of tubular fabric is placed by an operator over the end of the second duct and air flow from the blower is directed through the second passageway and redirected by the member for moving the tubular fabric along the exterior of the second duct toward the other end thereof. This movement is continued until the source of supply is exhausted and the entire supply of tubular fabric is collected on the exterior of the second duct at which time the air flow through the second passageway is terminated by the operator. The operator then inserts the end of the supply of tubular fabric on the second duct into the first passageway. Air flow from the blower is then directed to the eductor for moving the air and the supply of tubular fabric through the first passageway from one end of the first duct toward the other end and through the eductor. The effect of this operation of the everting apparatus is to turn the inside of the fabric outside. Therefore, the fabric discharged from the eductor is ready for subsequent processing of the fabric with the inside of the fabric exposed.

United States Patent 1 Goodson CLOTH TURNER [76] Inventor: Sam M.Goodson, 1107 Fleetwood Dr., Lookout Mountain, Tenn. 37350 [22] Filed:Nov. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 521,154

[52] U.S. Cl. H 223/43 [51] Int. Cl ..A41h 43/00 [58] Field of Search223/39-43; 15/304; 112/25; 66/149 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,899,116 3/1959 Long et al 223/43 3,126,134 3/1964 McAnally223/43 3,131,839 5/1964 Norman et al. 223/43 3,532,258 10/1970Kienel............ 223/43 3,536,898 3/1971 Griffin 223/43 3,577,9425/1971 Huling 112/25 Primary ExaminerGe0. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, orFirmStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT 1 July 1,1975

first passageway in a direction from the end adjacent the redirectingmember to the other end of the first duct for drawing tubular knitfabric therethrough. The air blower also moves air through the secondpassageway in a direction from the other end of the first duct towardthe end adjacent to which the member is mounted. The air moving in thesecond passageway is redirected by the member so as to move in asubstantially longitudinal direction from the one end to the other endof the second duct along the exterior of the second duct. This air flowmoves tubular fabric over the exterior of the second duct to collecttubular fabric around the second duct as it is withdrawn from a supplyroll of the fabric. In operation, one end of the length of tubularfabric is placed by an operator over the end of the second duct and airflow from the blower is directed through the second passageway andredirected by the member for moving the tubular fabric along theexterior of the second duct toward the other end thereof. This movementis continued until the source of supply is exhausted and the entiresupply of tubular fabric is collected on the exterior of the second ductat which time the air flow through the second passageway is terminatedby the operator. The operator then inserts the end of the supply oftubular fabric on the second duct into the first passageway. Air flowfrom the blower is then directed to the eductor for moving the air andthe supply of tubular fabric through the first passageway from one endof the first duct toward the other end and through the eductor. Theeffect of this operation of the everting apparatus is to turn the insideof the fabric outside. Therefore, the fabric discharged from the eductoris ready for subsequent processing of the fabric with the inside of thefabric exposed.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures mtmm'amm 1 SHEET ,lllll ll-ll- CLOTH TURNERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In the processingof tubular fabric, it is desirable that the fabric be everted, i.e.,turned inside out, so that various operations. such as stitching, to beperformed on the fabric can be performed on the inside thereof andthereby do not damage the appearance of the outside of the fabric. It istherefore desirable in processing tubular fabric to turn that fabricinside out so as to expose the inside of the fabric to the variousoperations. However it is extremely important that the fabric is notunduly stretched and thereby damaged when it is turned inside out.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the prior art to providean apparatus for turning tubular fabric inside out so as to preventdamage to the fabric during that operation. US. Pat. No. 3,568,898 is anexample of such prior art devices. This prior art device includes atubular member, preferably positioned vertically, which carries anarrangement of outer and inner ring shaped air manifolds which areconnected by air lines to an air source. The annular edge of the top ofthe tubular member supports a plurality of free spinning rollers tofacilitate movement of the tubular fabric over the end as the fabric iscollected about the exterior of the member and back again through theinterior during the everting operation. The outer manifold contains aplurality of apertures which form air jets directing air flow outwardlyand downwardly from and at an angle with the longitudinal axis of themember. The inner manifold also contains a plurality of apertures whichform air jets directing air flow inwardly and downwardly from and atangles with the longitudinal axis of the member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The everting apparatus of this inventionincludes a first elongated tubular duct which defines a first passagewaytherein and a second elongated tubular duct disposed concentricallyabout the first tubular duct to define a second fluid passagewaytherebetween. The ducts are preferably disposed substantiallyhorizontal. An annular air flow redirecting member is mounted adjacentone end of each of the ducts. An air blower. by means of an eductormounted on one end of the first duct, moves air and tubular fabricthrough the first passageway in a direction from the one end of thefirst duct toward the other end thereof and through the eductor where itis discharged ready for subsequent processing of fabric movedtherethrough. The blower also moves air in the second passageway in adirection from the other end of the first duct toward the one endthereof. The air moving in the second passageway is redirected by themember so as to move the air and tubular fabric in a substantiallylongitudinal direction from the one end of the second duct toward theother end thereof along the exterior periphery of the second duct forcollecting the tubular fabric thereon as it is withdrawn from a supplyroll of the fabric. The air flow from the blower is directed by adiverter valve to either the eductor or the second passageway asdesired.

In operation, one end of a supply of tubular fabric is placed by anoperator over the end of the second duct and the diverter valve ispositioned to direct the air flow from the blower into the secondpassageway where it is redirected by the member to move the air andtubular fabric along the exterior of the second duct in a direction fromthe one end of the second duct toward the other end thereof. After theentire supply of fabric is collected on the exterior of the second duct.the air flow is shut off to the second passageway and the operatorplaces the other end of the supply of fabric into the end of the firstpassageway. The diverter valve is then shifted to direct the air flowfrom the blower into the eductor for moving the air and the tubularfabric through the first passageway in a direction from the one endthereof to the other end and through the eductor. The effect of thisoperation is to turn the fabric in side out. Therefore, the fabricdischarged from the eductor is ready for subsequent processing of thefabric with the inside of the fabric exposed.

It is apparent from this summary that the invention provides anextremely structurally simple apparatus which contains only two movingparts, i.e., the blower and the diverter valve for directing the airflow from the blower selectively to either the eductor or the secondpassageway. Also because the apparatus is advantageously positionedhorizontally, the operator thereof does not have to climb up and down aladder to feed the cloth over or into the apparatus. Furthermore noadditional moving parts, such as the rollers of the prior art device,are needed to evert the cloth, i.e., the force of the moving air issufficient to effect the everting operation. While rollers such as thosein the prior art device could be used in conjunction with thisinvention, they are not necessary for its complete efficient operation.

With the foregoing summary of the invention in mind, it is a primaryobject of this invention to provide an everting apparatus for tubularfabric which does not damage the fabric, for example, by stretching it,during the everting operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an everting apparatus fortubular fabric which contains as few moving parts as possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide an everting apparatusfor tubular fabric which requires a minimum amount of work on the partof an operator thereof. In accordance with this object, it is notnecessary for an operator of the everting apparatus of the invention toclimb up and down on a ladder or to use other elevating apparatus tofeed cloth over or into the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective schematic viewof the everting apparatus of the invention illustrating the collectionof tubular fabric about the exterior of the second duct as it is fedfrom a supply roll of the fabric.

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section. showing the structural detailsof the everting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An everting apparatus generallyindicated as 10 is provided by connecting a first elongated tubular duct12 in a horizontal position on a frame 20. The first duct 12 defines afirst passageway 13 therewithin. The duct 12 is connected, by bolting orwelding, etc., to an upright 21 on the frame 20. A second tubular ductI5 is disposed concentrically about the duct 12 and defines a secondpassageway 16 with the duct 12. The first and second ducts arepreferably disposed in a substantially horizontal position. Adjacent oneend 12a of the duct 12, a substantially annular air flow redirectingmember 18 is mounted. The member 18 includes a first portion 180 whichis connected to the end 120 of the first duct 12. The first portion 180extends radially outwardly from its connection to the duct 12 to aregion radially outward of the duct 15. The second portion 18b issubstantially annular and extends from a radially outer region of theportion 18a in a direction from the portion 180 toward the frame 20. Theduct 15 terminates a short distance from the end 12a of the duct 12 toprovide a circumferentially extending opening 9 which opens from thesecond passageway 16. The opening 9 opens from the passageway 16 into athird passageway 8 formed between one part of the portion 18b of themember 18 and the end 150 of the second duct 15. A plurality ofangularly spaced radially extending bars 1 1 interconnect the portion18b of the member 18 and the end 150 of the second duct 15.

A rotary blower 30 is provided within the frame 20. A third duct 31having portions 31a, 3lb, and 31c guides the air blown by the blower 30to the passageway 16 and to an eductor 35 to be subsequently described.A diverter valve 37 is provided in the duct 31. The diverter valve 37 isslidably movable in the portion 31b of the duct 31. The diverter valve37 is mounted on the end of a piston rod 38 of a piston which rides inan air cylinder 39 one end of which is mounted to the frame 20. Thepiston rod 38 extends through an aperture cut in one end of the duct31b. Appropriate valving not shown controls the movement of the pistonin the cylinder 39 and through the piston rod 38 controls the movementof the diverter valve between its forwardmost position shown in solidlines in FIG. 2 and its retracted position shown in dotted lines in thatFigure. The diverter valve 37 includes an arcuate face 370 which. whenthe diverter valve 37 is in its retracted position. directs the airblown by the air blower 30 through the portions 31b and 31a of the duct31 into the second passageway 16. When the diverter valve 37 is in theretracted position it blocks the flow of air in duct portion 31c fromthe blower 30 to the eductor 35. When the appropriate valving is shiftedto move the diverter valve 37 to its forwardmost solid line positionshown in FIG. 2, the diverter valve 37 no longer blocks the duct portion31c so that the air blown by the blower 30 is permitted to move throughduct portion 31c into the eductor 35.

The eductor 35 is connected to the end 12b of the first duct 12. Thiseductor may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3.276.821 whosedisclosure is incorporated by reference herein. Upon the movement of theair driven by the blower 30 through the third duct portion 31c into andthrough the eductor 35, air moves through the first passageway 13 in adirection from the end 12a of the duct 12 to the other end 12b thereof.

Beyond and below the end 100 of the everting apparatus 10 is positioneda supply reel 23 having a length of tubular fabric wound thereon. Inoperation, an operator positions the free end of the tubular fabric overthe end 100 of the everting apparatus 10 and switches the valvemechanism to move the diverter valve 37 into its retracted position. Theoperator then actuates blower 30. The air blown by the blower 30 isdirected by the diverter valve 37 through the portion 310 of duct 31 andinto the second passageway 16 in a direction from the end 1212 of theduct 12 to the end 12a thereof. The air moving through the passageway 16is redirected by the member 18 so as to flow through the opening 9 intothe passageway 8 and along the exterior of the second duct 15 in asubstantially longitudinal direction from the end 15a of the duct 15 tothe end 15b thereof. The force of this air moves the tubular fabriclongitudinally along the exterior of the second duct 15 as shown inFIG. 1. This operation continues until all of the tubular fabric woundon the reel 23 is collected on the exterior ofa second duct 15. Thevalve mechanism is then actuated to shift the diverter valve 37 to itsforwardmost position so that the air blown by the blower 30 is directedthrough the portion 31c of the duct 31 into the eductor 35 to therebycause air to move in the first passageway 13 in a direction from the end12a of the duct 12 toward the other end 12b thereof. The operator maydeactuate the blower 30 or keep it actuated. The operator then takes theend of the tubular fabric on the second duct 15 adjacent the end 10a ofthe everting apparatus 10 and places that end into the first passageway13. If the blower 30 is deactuated, the operator again actuates it. Thetubular fabric is forced by the air moving in the first passageway 13 tomove through the passageway 13 in a direction from the end 12a of theduct 12 to the other end 12b thereof and through the eductor 35 where itis discharged through the end 36 thereof. This operation continues untilall of the tubular fabric previously collected on the exterior of theduct 15 is pulled through the passageway 13, the everter 35, and out ofthe end 36 thereof. The effect of this operation is to turn the tubularfabric inside out. Therefore, the fabric discharged from the end 36 ofthe eductor 35 is ready for subsequent processing of the fabric with theinside of the fabric exposed.

The ducts 12 and 15 are preferably disposed as shown in a substantiallyhorizontal disposition so that the operator does not have to use aladder or elevating apparatus for positioning the tubular fabric on theeverting apparatus. It is readily apparent that the everting apparatusof the invention could be disposed in other positions, including avertical disposition as well as any of the various angular positionsbetween horizontal and vertical. In fact, a substantially horizontalposition in which the ends 120. 15a of the ducts 12, 15 are elevatedslightly above the ends 12b, 15b thereof is desirable.

What is claimed:

1. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric comprisa first elongatedduct defining a first fluid passageway therewithin,

a second elongated duct disposed about said first duct and defining asecond fluid passageway therebetween,

an air flow redirecting member adjacent one end of each of said firstand second ducts,

a first pneumatic means for moving air through said first passageway ina direction from said one end of said first duct toward the other endthereof,

a second pneumatic means for moving air through said second passagewayin a direction from said other end of said first duct toward said oneend thereof, and

said member being adapted to redirect the air moving through said secondpassageway in a substantially longitudinal direction from the one end tothe other end of said second duct along the exterior of said secondduct.

2. An evening apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 1wherein:

said member comprises first and second portions, said first portion isconnected to a portion of said first duct adjacent said one end thereofand extends outwardly therefrom beyond said second duct, and said secondportion extends longitudinally from said first portion in a directionfrom said one end toward said other end of said first duct outwardly ofsaid second duct and defines a third passageway with the second ductthrough which the redirected air may move.

3. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 2wherein:

a plurality of spaced bars interconnect said second portion of saidmember and said second duct.

4. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 1wherein:

said first and second pneumatic means comprise an air blower, and

a diverter valve for directing the air blown by said blower selectivelyto either one of said first and second passageways.

5. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 4wherein said first pneumatic means comprises an eductor connected to theother end of said first duct for connecting said blower with said firstpassageway.

6. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 1wherein:

said first and second ducts extend substantially horizontally.

7. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric comprisa first elongatedtubular duct defining a first fluid passageway therewithin,

a second elongated tubular duct disposed concentrically about said firstduct and defining a second fluid passageway therebetween,

a substantially annular air flow redirecting member adjacent one end ofeach of said first and second ducts,

a first pneumatic means for moving air through said first passageway ina direction from said one end toward the other end of said first duct,

a second pneumatic means for moving air through said second passagewayin a direction from the other end of said first duct toward said one endthereof, and

said member being adapted to redirect the air moving through said secondpassageway in a substantially longitudinal direction from said one endto said other end of said second duct along the exterior of said secondduct.

8. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 7wherein:

said member comprises first and second portions, said first portion isconnected to a portion of said first duct adjacent said one end thereofand extends radially outwardly therefrom beyond said second duct, andsaid second portion extends longitudinally from a radially outer portionof said first portion in a direction from said one end toward said otherend of said second duct and surrounds a portion of said second ductadjacent said one end thereof to define a third passageway therebetweenthrough which said redirected air may move.

9. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 7wherein:

said first and second pneumatic means comprise an air blower, and

a diverter valve for directing the air blown by said blower selectivelyto either one of said first and second passageways.

10. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 7wherein:

said first and second ducts extend substantially horizontally.

11. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric comprisa first elongatedtubular duct defining a first fluid passageway therewithin,

a second elongated tubular duct disposed concentrically about said firstduct and defining a second fluid passageway therebetween,

a substantially annular air flow redirecting member adjacent one end ofeach of said first and second ducts,

an eductor connected to said other end of said first duct,

a third duct between said blower and each of said eductor and saidsecond passageway for connecting said blower therewith,

a diverter valve in said third duct for directing the air blown by saidblower selectively to either one of said eductor and said secondpassageway, and

said member being adapted to redirect air moving through said secondpassageway in a substantially longitudinal direction from said one endto said other end of said second duct along the exterior of said secondduct.

1. An everting apparatus For tubular fabric comprising: a firstelongated duct defining a first fluid passageway therewithin, a secondelongated duct disposed about said first duct and defining a secondfluid passageway therebetween, an air flow redirecting member adjacentone end of each of said first and second ducts, a first pneumatic meansfor moving air through said first passageway in a direction from saidone end of said first duct toward the other end thereof, a secondpneumatic means for moving air through said second passageway in adirection from said other end of said first duct toward said one endthereof, and said member being adapted to redirect the air movingthrough said second passageway in a substantially longitudinal directionfrom the one end to the other end of said second duct along the exteriorof said second duct.
 2. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric asclaimed in claim 1 wherein: said member comprises first and secondportions, said first portion is connected to a portion of said firstduct adjacent said one end thereof and extends outwardly therefrombeyond said second duct, and said second portion extends longitudinallyfrom said first portion in a direction from said one end toward saidother end of said first duct outwardly of said second duct and defines athird passageway with the second duct through which the redirected airmay move.
 3. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed inclaim 2 wherein: a plurality of spaced bars interconnect said secondportion of said member and said second duct.
 4. An everting apparatusfor tubular fabric as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first and secondpneumatic means comprise an air blower, and a diverter valve fordirecting the air blown by said blower selectively to either one of saidfirst and second passageways.
 5. An everting apparatus for tubularfabric as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first pneumatic meanscomprises an eductor connected to the other end of said first duct forconnecting said blower with said first passageway.
 6. An evertingapparatus for tubular fabric as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said firstand second ducts extend substantially horizontally.
 7. An evertingapparatus for tubular fabric comprising: a first elongated tubular ductdefining a first fluid passageway therewithin, a second elongatedtubular duct disposed concentrically about said first duct and defininga second fluid passageway therebetween, a substantially annular air flowredirecting member adjacent one end of each of said first and secondducts, a first pneumatic means for moving air through said firstpassageway in a direction from said one end toward the other end of saidfirst duct, a second pneumatic means for moving air through said secondpassageway in a direction from the other end of said first duct towardsaid one end thereof, and said member being adapted to redirect the airmoving through said second passageway in a substantially longitudinaldirection from said one end to said other end of said second duct alongthe exterior of said second duct.
 8. An everting apparatus for tubularfabric as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said member comprises first andsecond portions, said first portion is connected to a portion of saidfirst duct adjacent said one end thereof and extends radially outwardlytherefrom beyond said second duct, and said second portion extendslongitudinally from a radially outer portion of said first portion in adirection from said one end toward said other end of said second ductand surrounds a portion of said second duct adjacent said one endthereof to define a third passageway therebetween through which saidredirected air may move.
 9. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric asclaimed in claim 7 wherein: said first and second pneumatic meanscomprise an air blower, and a diverter valve for directing the air blownby said blower selectively to either one of said first aNd secondpassageways.
 10. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric as claimed inclaim 7 wherein: said first and second ducts extend substantiallyhorizontally.
 11. An everting apparatus for tubular fabric comprising: afirst elongated tubular duct defining a first fluid passagewaytherewithin, a second elongated tubular duct disposed concentricallyabout said first duct and defining a second fluid passagewaytherebetween, a substantially annular air flow redirecting memberadjacent one end of each of said first and second ducts, an eductorconnected to said other end of said first duct, a third duct betweensaid blower and each of said eductor and said second passageway forconnecting said blower therewith, a diverter valve in said third ductfor directing the air blown by said blower selectively to either one ofsaid eductor and said second passageway, and said member being adaptedto redirect air moving through said second passageway in a substantiallylongitudinal direction from said one end to said other end of saidsecond duct along the exterior of said second duct.